At least five carriers are launching services to Pakistan’s two main northern gateways following the lifting of restrictions against foreign airlines on January 1 this year.
Before the open skies agreement only British Airways and Saudi Arabia were able to operate to the capital, Islamabad, and Lahore, the major gateways for tourism traffic which between them receive around 70% arrivals.
Now Swissair, KLM, Gulf, Emirates and Qatar are adding services undercutting national carrier Pakistan International Airlines by around ú70 for a return flight.
PIA, which offers fares of around ú470 return, is holding prices but is still planning to increase frequency this year. It currently offers 10 flights a week from the UK – six from Heathrow and four from Manchester – but will add two weekly nonstop flights from Birmingham to Islamabad in June or July.
PIA general manager Saleem Nisar stressed the carrier still planned to add services from Manchester this year and from Glasgow in 2000 despite the new competition.
He added that PIA has signed an agreement with consultancy Speedwings to help restructure its network and schedules and it has drawn up a contract with Sabre to upgrade its information technology from February 1.
Operators are confident the extra flights will help promote tourism to the region, which fell off after Foreign Office issued advice discouraging non-essential travel to Pakistan. The warning was introduced after US air strikes against Afghanistan last autumn.
Cox and Kings product manger, Indian subcontinent, Charlie Ridout said: “We are fairly confident the travel advice will change soon. Other countries such as the US and France are already travelling there.”